The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability: Revised Expectationshttp://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/the-ceres-roadmap-for-sustainability-revised-expectations
The Ceres Roadmap presents 20 expectations in the areas of governance, stakeholder engagement, disclosure, and performance that companies should seek to meet by 2020 in order to transform into truly sustainable enterprises. As we pass the halfway point on the road to 2020, it is an important time to take stock of our changing world and refresh the Ceres Roadmap expectations themselves to reflect global sustainability trends.
View the revised expectations in this abbreviated, two-page resource.

The race toward a sustainable future is on—and the competition is fierce.

Since the release of the Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability in 2010, there’s been a dramatic shift in the economic, environmental, social and political landscape. As we better understand the urgent action required to address environmental and social risks, it’s becoming increasingly clear that corporate leaders need to integrate sustainability into core business systems and decision-making, and to capture the competitive advantage that sustainable business offers.

The Ceres Roadmap presents 20 expectations in the areas of governance, stakeholder engagement, disclosure, and performancethat companies should seek to meet by 2020 in order to transform into truly sustainable enterprises. As we pass the halfway point on the road to 2020, it is an important time to take stock of our changing world and refresh the Ceres Roadmap expectations themselves to reflect global sustainability trends.

To view the revised expectations in an abbreviated two-page PDF, please complete the form below.

]]>No publisherLaura DevenneyThe Road to 20202016-05-02T21:15:00ZResourceView From the Top: How Corporate Boards Engage on Sustainability Performancehttp://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/view-from-the-top-how-corporate-boards-engage-on-sustainability-performance
Corporate boards are responsible for overseeing the interests of shareholders in the long term and have a critical role to play in championing sustainability across the enterprise. Over the years, Wall Street research, academic papers, corporate reports and trends from major investors have all underscored the same message: Companies that adopt sustainable practices deliver superior financial results and can face the future with more resilience.
Based on interviews conducted with dozens of corporate directors, senior corporate leaders and governance experts, this Ceres report, View from the top: How Corporate Boards Engage on Sustainability Performance identifies key strategies for effective board engagement that can produce tangible environmental and social impacts.Corporate boards are responsible for overseeing the interests of shareholders in the long term and have a critical role to play in championing sustainability across the enterprise. Over the years, Wall Street research, academic papers, corporate reports and trends from major investors have all underscored the same message: Companies that adopt sustainable practices deliver superior financial results and can face the future with more resilience.

Based on interviews conducted with dozens of corporate directors, senior corporate leaders and governance experts, this Ceres report, View from the top: How Corporate Boards Engage on Sustainability Performance identifies key strategies for effective board engagement that can produce tangible environmental and social impacts. The report builds on The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability.

Specifically, the report recommends two inter-related approaches for weaving sustainability more deeply across board functions:

1) Integrating sustainability into board governance systems, and

2)Integrating sustainability into board actions.

By combining robust systems and meaningful actions, boards will have a far better chance of encouraging substantive performance improvements.

Learn more about corporate governance and board level engagement on sustainability by downloading the report. We also invite you to learn more by watching this webinar discussion:

]]>No publisherLaura Devenney2015-10-28T12:45:00ZResourceWater Connection Charges: A Tool for Encouraging Water-Efficient Growthhttp://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/water-connection-charges-a-tool-for-encouraging-water-efficient-growth
As many U.S. communities are struggling to support growing populations with limited water resources, very few of them are utilizing water connection charges to increase water-savvy residential development projects in their communities.As many U.S. communities are struggling to support growing populations with limited water resources, very few of them are utilizing water connection charges to increase water-savvy residential development projects in their communities. So concludes a new report by Western Resource Advocates, Ceres, and the University of North Carolina's Environmental Finance Center evaluating water connection charges used by 800 public water utilities in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina and Utah.

This first-of-its-kind report entitled Water Connection Charges: A Tool for Encouraging Water-Efficient Growth found that 93% of the fee structures in the Southeastern states and 62% of the fee structures in the Western states used uniform water connection charges for single-family homes that took no account of key factors in influencing the design of a home's water footprint. As a result, owners of new homes are typically paying the same amount to be connected to local water systems despite wide-ranging differences in their water use.

]]>No publisherMegan Doherty2015-08-11T14:05:00ZResource21st Century Engagement: Investor Strategies for Incorporating ESG Considerations into Corporate Interactionshttp://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/21st-century-engagement-investor-strategies-for-incorporating-esg-considerations-into-corporate-interactions
21st Century Engagement: Investor Strategies for Incorporating ESG Considerations into Corporate Interactions is a guide for U.S. institutional investors on engaging with companies and policymakers on sustainability issues and includes tactics and case studies from 37 engagement experts spanning six countries.21st Century Engagement: Investor Strategies for Incorporating ESG Considerations into Corporate Interactions is a guide for U.S. institutional investors on engaging with companies and policymakers on sustainability issues and includes tactics and case studies from 37 engagement experts spanning six countries.

Showcasing dozens of real-world examples of investor engagement with companies, contributors cover issues like setting ESG standards in the marketplace, public policy engagement, collaboration, shareholder resolutions, board of director engagement, divestment, creating a focus list, strategies for international engagements, and other topics. The guide also features a set of ESG-themed questions that portfolio managers and analysts should be asking of companies in key sectors

]]>No publisherMegan Doherty2015-05-28T12:55:00ZResourceFeeding Ourselves Thirsty: How the Food Sector is Managing Global Water Riskshttp://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/feeding-ourselves-thirsty-how-the-food-sector-is-managing-global-water-risks
In Feeding Ourselves Thirsty, Ceres takes a closer look at how the food sector is managing water risk. The report evaluates publicly available information on the water use, stewardship and policies of 37 major food sector companies in four industries: packaged food, beverage, meat and agricultural products. The report examines how water risks affect the profitability and competitive positioning of these companies using indicators and scoring drawn from the Ceres Aqua Gauge.In Feeding Ourselves Thirsty, Ceres takes a closer look at how the food sector is managing water risk. The report evaluates publicly available information on the water use, stewardship and policies of 37 major food sector companies in four industries: packaged food, beverage, meat and agricultural products. The report examines how water risks affect the profitability and competitive positioning of these companies using indicators and scoring drawn from theCeres Aqua Gauge.

The report provides recommendations for how investment analysts can more effectively evaluate food sector companies on their water risk exposure and management practices. It also provides recommendations for how companies in the food sector can improve water efficiency and water quality across their operations and supply chains to reduce risks and protect water resources.

]]>No publisherBrian Sant2015-05-07T15:55:00ZResourceBond Financing Distributed Water systems: How to Make Better Use of Our Most Liquid Market for Financing Water infrastructurehttp://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/bond-financing-distributed-water-systems-how-to-make-better-use-of-our-most-liquid-market-for-financing-water-infrastructure
Water utilities are at a crossroads. in the years ahead, they will have to invest billions in their infrastructure simply to catch up on backlogged repairs—and billions more to accommodate growing demands and changing hydrologic conditions.Across the country, communities are experiencing more extreme hydrology. In some places, this takes the form of deepening drought that necessitates stronger commitments to conservation. In others, it takes the form of more frequent flooding that overwhelms water infrastructure, sending raw sewage into urban rivers or even into city streets. Some places are experiencing both intensifying drought and flood.

As a growing number of water planners across the country are recognizing, these challenges cannot be solved solely by building new reservoirs, pipelines and treatment plants. Given current financial and ecological constraints, utilities will have to embrace a new form of infrastructure if they intend to provide reliable, reasonably priced water services.

]]>No publisherMegan Doherty2014-09-02T14:25:37ZResourceMeasuring & Mitigating Water Revenue Variability: Understanding How Pricing Can Advance Conservation Without Undermining Utilities’ Revenue Goalshttp://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/measuring-mitigating-water-revenue-variability-understanding-how-pricing-can-advance-conservation-without-undermining-utilities2019-revenue-goals
As water utilities across North America undertake capital campaigns to finance the replacement and expansion of their systems, the need for confident revenue projections grows.As water utilities across North America undertake capital campaigns to finance the replacement and expansion of their systems, the need for confident revenue projections grows. Yet many water utilities are subject to factors that can affect revenue variability, including volatile weather patterns and a growing imperative to conserve scarce water resources. As a result, it is more important than ever to anticipate how changing water use patterns and rates drive revenue risk.

Despite being essential service providers, water utilities experience unavoidable variability in their revenue stream. This revenue variability is driven by many factors: changing population, varying customer demands, unpredictable weather patterns, and even rate structures. While it is unrealistic to expect utilities to eradicate revenue variability, utilities can understand its root causes and incorporate it into their overall resource and finance planning.

This report examines real financial and water use data from three North American water utilities to demonstrate how rate structures can mitigate or intensify revenue variability. It also introduces alternative financial and pricing strategies that can assist water utilities in stabilizing revenue without compromising the commitment to water conservation.

]]>No publisherMegan Doherty2014-07-10T12:50:00ZResourceWater and Climate Risks Facing U.S. Corn Production: How Companies and Investors Can Cultivate Sustainabilityhttp://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/water-and-climate-risks-facing-u.s.-corn-production-how-companies-and-investors-can-cultivate-sustainability
This report provides new data and interactive maps on the risks facing U.S. corn production, as well as detailed recommendations for how corn-buying companies and their investors can catalyze more sustainable agricultural practices that will reduce these risks, preserve and enhance yields, and protect precious water resources.

Recent extreme weather events such as the devastating Midwest drought of 2012 helped drive record corn prices ($8/bushel). This provided a taste of what is predicted to become the new normal in many parts of the Corn Belt thanks to climate change—a point powerfully reinforced by the latest National Climate Assessment.

Growing irrigation demand for corn production, alongside unchecked withdrawals of groundwater from stressed water sources—in particular, the High Plains aquifer that spans eight Great Plains states and California’s overextended Central Valley aquifer—create additional risks for the $65 billion a year corn industry, which has nearly doubled in size over the past two decades.

Given the scale of the challenges facing U.S. corn production and the key industries that depend on it, investors need to understand how companies in the grain processing, food, beverage, livestock, ethanol, grocery and restaurant sectors are addressing these risks in their supply chains.

This report provides new data and interactive maps on the risks facing U.S. corn production, as well as detailed recommendations for how corn-buying companies and their investors can catalyze more sustainable agricultural practices that will reduce these risks, preserve and enhance yields, and protect precious water resources.

]]>No publisherMegan Doherty2014-06-11T14:50:00ZResourceGaining Ground: Corporate Progress on the Ceres Roadmap for Sustainabilityhttp://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/gaining-ground-corporate-progress-on-the-ceres-roadmap-for-sustainability
This report evaluates how well 613 of the largest, publicly traded U.S. companies are integrating sustainability into their business systems and decision-making. The report— a collaboration between Ceres and Sustainalytics—assesses corporate progress across the four strategic areas first outlined in 2010 in the Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability.This report, Gaining Ground: Corporate Progress on the Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability, evaluates how well 613 of the largest, publicly traded U.S. companies are integrating sustainability into their business systems and decision-making. The report— a collaboration between Ceres and Sustainalytics—assesses corporate progress across the four strategic areas first outlined in 2010 in the Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability: Governance, Stakeholder Engagement, Disclosure and Performance.

Key findings include:

While many companies are taking action to reduce GHG emissions, few have set time-bound targets.

A growing number of companies are incorporating sustainability performance into executive compensation packages

More companies are setting clear sustainability standards for suppliers

In addition to informing the sustainability efforts of companies, the report provides important information to shareholders about how the companies in their portfolios are performing in key areas, such as disclosing material issues and engaging with stakeholders.

]]>No publisherMegan DohertyThe Road to 20202014-04-30T13:10:00ZResourceHydraulic Fracturing & Water Stress: Water Demand by the Numbershttp://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/hydraulic-fracturing-water-stress-water-demand-by-the-numbers
This Ceres research paper analyzes escalating water demand in hydraulic fracturing operations across the United States and western Canada. It evaluates oil and gas company water use in eight regions with intense shale energy development and the most pronounced water stress challenges.This Ceres research paper analyzes escalating water demand in hydraulic fracturing operations across the United States and western Canada. It evaluates oil and gas company water use in eight regions with intense shale energy development and the most pronounced water stress challenges. The report also provides recommendations to investors, lenders and shale energy companies for mitigating their exposure to water sourcing risks, including improvement of on-the-ground practices. The research is based on well data available at FracFocus.org and water stress indicator maps developed by the World Resources Institute, where water stress denotes the level of competition for waterin a given region. ]]>No publisherMegan Doherty2014-02-05T13:20:00ZResourceThe Future is Possible: Ceres Annual Report 2012http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/the-future-is-possible-ceres-annual-report-2012
Our latest annual report highlights our accomplishments over the last year in mobilizing our powerful networks of investors and companies to integrate environmental and social concerns into their decision-making and operations. It discusses our efforts to move key economic players like the insurance industry and to transform capital market systems in order to address the most pressing sustainability challenges of our time—water scarcity, the depletion of natural resources, and the growing impacts of climate change.Our latest annual report highlights our accomplishments over the last year in mobilizing our powerful networks of investors and companies to integrate environmental and social concerns into their decision-making and operations. It discusses our efforts to move key economic players like the insurance industry and to transform capital market systems in order to address the most pressing sustainability challenges of our time—water scarcity, the depletion of natural resources, and the growing impacts of climate change.]]>No publisherMegan Dohertyannual report2013-09-25T14:25:00ZResourceAssessing Water System Revenue Risk: Considerations for Market Analystshttp://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/assessing-water-system-revenue-risk-considerations-for-market-analysts
Water utilities are on the brink of extraordinary investments to replace aging infrastructure—the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that by 2030, capital expenditures of more than $300 billion will be needed to safeguard drinking water. Yet this investment comes at a time when Americans’ water use habits are changing—resulting in considerable uncertainty for water systems planning capital programs to replace or expand their assets.Water utilities are on the brink of extraordinary investments to replace aging infrastructure—the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that by 2030, capital expenditures of more than $300 billion will be needed to safeguard drinking water. Yet this investment comes at a time when Americans’ water use habits are changing—resulting in considerable uncertainty for water systems planning capital programs to replace or expand their assets.]]>No publisherBrian Sant2013-08-07T12:50:00ZResourceHydraulic Fracturing & Water Stress: Growing Competitive Pressures for Waterhttp://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/hydraulic-fracturing-water-stress-growing-competitive-pressures-for-water
This Ceres research paper analyzes water use in hydraulic fracturing operations across the United States and the extent to which this activity is taking place in water stressed regions. It provides an overview of efforts underway, such as the use of recycled water and nonfreshwater resources, to mitigate these impacts and suggests key questions that industry, water managers and investors should be asking.This Ceres research paper analyzes water use in hydraulic fracturing operations across the United States and the extent to which this activity is taking place in water stressed regions. It provides an overview of efforts underway, such as the use of recycled water and nonfreshwater resources, to mitigate these impacts and suggests key questions that industry, water managers and investors should be asking. The research is based on well data available at FracFocus.org and water stress indicator maps developed by the World Resources Institute.

The research paper provides valuable insights about potential water use/water supply conflicts and risks, especially in basins with intense hydraulic fracturing activity and water supply constraints (due to water stress and/or drought). Given projected sharp increases in production in the coming years and the potentially intense nature of local water demands, competition and conflicts over water should be a growing concern for companies, policymakers and investors.

The bottom line: shale energy development cannot grow without water, but in order to do so the industry’s water needs and impacts need to be better understood, measured and managed. A key question investors should be asking is whether water management planning is getting sufficient attention from both industry and regulators.

]]>No publisherMegan Doherty2013-05-02T03:55:00ZResourceDisclosure Framework for Water & Sewer Enterpriseshttp://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/disclosure-framework-for-water-sewer-enterprises
In its Report on Municipal Securities Market, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission recommends the development of best practices in disclosure to improve the fairness and efficiency of the municipal market.
Given the heightened attention to credit analysis across the municipal market, and the shifting operating environment facing issuers within the water and sewer sector, Ceres is issuing this disclosure framework to ensure that all material information is provided to investors in the primary and secondary markets.Given the heightened attention to credit analysis across the municipal market, and the shifting operating environment facing issuers within the water and sewer sector, Ceres is issuing this disclosure framework to ensure that all material information is provided to investors in the primary and secondary markets.

This framework was created through outreach to stakeholders on the buy- and sell-sides of the market, including large water and wastewater systems and more than a dozen institutional investors with $40 billion in assets under management.

The framework entails six key areas of disclosure:

Supply Security

Demand Management

Asset Management

Water Quality

Energy Use and Generation

Rates

]]>No publisherMegan Doherty2013-04-02T12:50:00ZResourceWater Ripples: Expanding Risks for U.S. Water Providershttp://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/water-ripples-expanding-risks-for-u.s.-water-providers
As numerous western states are considering massive new water supply projects, a new Ceres report is suggesting caution. Citing shrinking federal funds, uncertain water demand and declining revenues to pay for the projects, the report recommends that utilities move carefully before embarking on major pipelines, reservoirs and other new infrastructure that will create financial risks for investors and utility customers alike.As numerous western states are considering massive new water supply projects, a new Ceres report is suggesting caution.

Citing shrinking federal funds, uncertain water demand and declining revenues to pay for the projects, the report recommends that utilities move carefully before embarking on major pipelines, reservoirs and other new infrastructure that will create financial risks for investors and utility customers alike.

The report also recommends that water demand projections be viewed skeptically by credit rating agencies, investors and policymakers; that investors and credit rating agencies seek better understanding of how rate structures influence demand and revenue streams; and that environmental and consumer groups actively work to build public support for water rates that ensure future water security and affordability.